Major fire strikes refinery in Thailand

Smoke is emitted from an oil refinery after a fire broke out, in Bangkok July 4, 2012. Thailand's Bangchak Petroleum Pcl shut its 120,000 barrels-per-day refinery in Bangkok after a fire on Wednesday, a company official said.

Agence France-Presse reports: BANGKOK — An explosion at an oil refinery in an industrial area of Bangkok sparked a massive fire early Wednesday, sending a thick column of smoke into the air that could be seen across the Thai capital. No one appeared to have been injured in the blaze, which began after a loud blast at around 7.30 am local time (0030 GMT), according to a spokeswoman for the refinery firm.

"We are investigating the cause of fire and will inform the public immediately," said Chaveewan Kiatchokchaikul of Bangchak Petroleum, who said the fire had been brought under control.